North Korean space program
The North Korean space program is the program of North Korea to develop its space capabilities.
It is regulated by the National Aerospace Technology Administration. Prior to 2013, it is governed by Korean Committee of Space Technology.
History
[edit]The Korean Committee of Space Technology (KCST) was known to have been founded sometime in the 1980s.[1]
North Korea launched the first satellite, named Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1 on 31 August 1998. On 4 September 1998, North Korea claimed that the launch of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1 was successful.[2] However, the launch was considered as a failure outside North Korea.[3]
State media first mentioned KCST in February 2009, before the launch of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2.[3][4] In March 2009, North Korea signed the Outer Space Treaty and the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space Objects.[5]
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 was launched on 5 April 2009. Simillar to the launch of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1, North Korea claimed successful for the launch,[6] however, the launch was also considered as a failure outside North Korea.[7][8]
North Korea launched two satellites in 2012: Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 and Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2. While the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 launch was failed in April 2012,[9] eight months later, the second version of this satellite was successfully launched.
In 2013, after the Law on Space Development was passed in the 7th session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly, the KCST was dissolved and replaced by newly-formed National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA), which was formed on 1 April 2013.[10]
In 2016, North Korea accepted the Rescue Agreement, an international agreement setting forth rights and obligations of states concerning the rescue of persons in space, as well as the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects.[3]
In September 2023, following the 9th Session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly, the National Aerospace Development Administration was changed name to National Aerospace Technology Administration.[11]
Space launch vehicles
[edit]
Paektusan-1
[edit]The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's first orbital space launch vehicle.
Unha rocket family
[edit]The Unha is a North Korea family of expendable carrier rockets. These rocket have a wider first stage, comparable to that of the Iranian Simorgh.
Chollima-1
[edit]Chollima-1 is a three-stage rocket, the first stage is based on the Hwasong-17 ICBM.
Launch history
[edit]| Satellite | Launch Date (UTC) |
Rocket | Launch Site | Status | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1[12] | 31 August 1998 | Paektusan | Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground | Failed to reach orbit | Technology experimental satellite |
| 4 July 2006 | Unha-1 | Launch Failure | Rocket test (See 2006 North Korean missile test) | ||
| Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 | 5 April 2009 | Unha-2 | Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground | Failed to reach orbit | Communications satellite |
| Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3[13] | 13 April 2012 | Unha-3 | Sohae Satellite Launching Station | Launch Failure | Observation satellite |
| Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2 | 12 December 2012 | Unha-3 | Sohae Satellite Launching Station | Successful launch | Observation satellite |
| Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4 | 7 February 2016 | Kwangmyŏngsŏng (Unha-4) | Sohae Satellite Launching Station | Successful launch | Observation satellite |
| Malligyong-1 #1 | 30 May 2023 | Chollima-1 | Sohae Satellite Launching Station | Launch Failure | Military reconnaissance satellite |
| Malligyong-1 #2 | 23 Aug 2023 | Chollima-1 | Sohae Satellite Launching Station | Launch Failure | Military reconnaissance satellite |
| Malligyong-1 #3 | 21 Nov 2023 | Chollima-1 | Sohae Satellite Launching Station | Successful Launch | Military reconnaissance satellite |
| Malligyong-1-1 | 27 May 2024 | Unnamed (using kerolox propellant) | Sohae Satellite Launching Station | Launch Failure | Military reconnaissance satellite |
Deep space exploration program
[edit]The future Unha-20 will be able to place 20 tons into low Earth orbit and can be used by North Korea for its deep space exploration program, to explore the Moon, Mars, and other destinations.[14]
Lunar exploration program
[edit]The North Korea's lunar exploration program (Korean: 조선달탐사; Hanja: 朝鮮月探索) is the planned lunar exploration mission of North Korea.
Phase 1: lunar orbiter
[edit]South Korean internet newspaper Jaju Minbo carried an article on 23 March 2012 stating that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is likely to launch a lunar exploration satellite.[15]
Phase 2: lunar lander
[edit]In an interview with The Associated Press, a senior official[who?] said on 4 August 2016 that North Korea will begin designing a lunar orbiter and lunar lander immediately after launching a geostationary communications satellite as planned in the Second Space Development Five-Year Plan.
North Korea has stated its ambition to land a probe on the Moon.[14]
Phase 3: lunar sample return mission
[edit]As a prerequisite paving the way for a crewed Moon landing, the third phase of the NKLEP would be to return rock samples to Earth with a robotic probe as illustrated by an orbital trajectory schematic seen in 2015 at the Pyongyang Science-Technology Complex.[dubious – discuss] Planned for a launch sometime after 2026, the mission will use a heavy Unha-20 booster able to place it into a lunar trajectory orbit. The landing of the return capsule would be in the Pacific Ocean.[16]
Mars exploration program
[edit]The North Korea's Mars exploration program (Korean: 조선화성탐사; Hanja: 朝鮮火星探索) is the planned Mars exploration mission of North Korea.
Hyon Kwang Il, director of the scientific research department of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration, said that North Korea also intends "to do manned spaceflight and scientific experiments in space, make a flight to the moon and moon exploration and also exploration to other planets."[14]
Future projects
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In 2009, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea announced more ambitious future space projects, including its own crewed space flights and the development of a partially reusable crewed shuttle launch vehicle mockup, which was displayed at Mangyongdae Children's Palace.[17]
In 2016, Hyon Kwang Il, director of NADA's scientific research department, said they planned to launch more satellites before 2020, including a geostationary satellite. He also said that he hoped they would "plant the flag of the DPRK on the moon" within 10 years.[18]
In 2017, NADA officials unveiled two proposals for upcoming satellites, one of which is an Earth remote-exploration satellite weighing over 100 kg, with spatial resolution capabilities of several meters. The second is a satellite in a proposed geostationary orbit for communication, with an estimated weight of at least one short ton.[19] Various media outlets have reported that North Korea was in the process of completing one of the two satellites, dubbed "Kwangmyongsong-5", however the expected launch date has yet to be determined.[20][21][22]
References
[edit]- ^ "Despite Clinton, Korea has rights". Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ^ "Successful launch of first satellite in DPRK". Korean Central News Agency. 4 September 1998. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
- ^ a b c Williams, Martyn (21 April 2023). "North Korea's Space Agency at Ten". 38 North. The Henry L. Stimson Center. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ "Preparations for Launch of Experimental Communications Satellite in Full Gear". Korean Central News Agency. 24 February 2009. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
- ^ "KCNA Report on DPRK's Accession to International Space Treaty and Convention". Korea News Service (KNS). Archived from the original on 2 April 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ "KCNA on DPRK's Successful Launch of Satellite Kwangmyongsong-2". Korean Central News Agency. April 5, 2009. Archived from the original on April 9, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
- ^ "NORAD and USNORTHCOM monitor North Korean launch". United States Northern Command. April 5, 2009. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
- ^ "Russian space control: DPRK satellite not placed in orbit". Xinhua News Agency. April 6, 2009. Archived from the original on April 8, 2009. Retrieved April 6, 2009.
- ^ "North Korean Launch Fails". The Wall Street Journal. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- ^ Pearlman, Robert (2 April 2014). "North Korea's 'NADA' Space Agency, Logo Are Anything But 'Nothing'". Space.com.
- ^ "KCNA | Article | 9th Session of 14th SPA of DPRK Held". Korean Central News Agency. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ "Despite Clinton, Korea has rights". Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ Levs, Josh (12 December 2012). "N. Korea's launch causes worries about nukes, Iran and the Pacific". CNN. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ a b c "≪자주시보≫ [개벽예감220] 달탐사계획 앞당긴 대출력 로켓엔진 백두산-1". 자주시보.
- ^ "S. Korean Newspaper Praises DPRK's Planned Satellite Launch". www.kcna.co.jp. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ "조선소년단 제8차대회 참가자들 만경대방문, 여러곳 참관- (6)". June 5, 2017 – via Flickr.
- ^ "朝鲜宣布发展太空计划抗衡"西方强权"". Rodong Sinmun. 2009-02-08. Retrieved February 26, 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Talmadge, Eric (4 August 2016). "North Korea hopes to plant flag on the moon". AP. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
- ^ "North Korean plans for two new satellite types revealed | NK News". December 8, 2017.
- ^ "North Korea preparing to launch satellite Kwangmyongsong-5, says report". December 26, 2017.
- ^ "North Korea preparing to launch satellite". The Straits Times. December 26, 2017.
- ^ Panda, Ankit. "Why North Korea Is Likely Planning a Satellite Launch in 2018". thediplomat.com.